November 17, 2011 | Read Time: 1 minute
Donations to evangelical groups grew 5.8 percent last year to $9.38-billion, from $8.87-billion in 2009, according to a new study of organizations that belong to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
That is a much rosier picture than the council painted last year, when it released a study showing that giving declined by 0.1 percent from 2007 to 2009, as the recession was at its deepest point.
But the growth last year was uneven, coming mostly at big charities and foundations that attract gifts from the affluent.
Contributions to foundations that channel money to Christian causes rose 68.8 percent, while groups with $10-million in revenue or more saw giving rise 6.7 percent. Organizations that are smaller chalked up a gain of just 1.6 percent.
Different causes fared better than others, too. Groups that allow donors to sponsor a needy child overseas saw contributions grow by 24.3 percent, the highest gain of any cause, while organizations that provide medical care faced a nearly 16 percent decline, the steepest drop.
Donation data came from audited financial statements of 1,360 of the council’s 1,600 members. The council evaluates evangelical Christian charities to determine whether they meet the organization’s standards in the way they solicit gifts, as well as in governance, financial management, and public accountability.
